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The Island Explorer
The Island Explorer features eight bus routes linking hotels, inns, and campgrounds with destinations in Acadia National Park and neighboring village centers. This free shuttle bus has a bus stop right in front of Scotty's Dockside that will bring you all over MDI. Park your car at Scotty's Dockside and let the Island Explorer do the driving for you.
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Southwest Harbor / Tremont Chamber of Commerce
Come experience the villages of Southwest Harbor and Tremont, west of Bar Harbor, on Mount Desert Island, in the midst of Acadia National Park. The beauty of the rocky coast from the mountain trails to the wildness of the ocean offers something for all interests and abilities. Outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, deep sea fishing, biking and world class sailing will fill your days with smiles of satisfaction. Unique shops, museums and art galleries combine with a full range of services to meet every need. Enjoy lobster on the harbor, casual cafes and fine dining in the villages of the Quietside. Bed and Breakfasts, inns, motels, cottages and campgrounds offer lodging options to make your vacation comfortable, satisfying and affordable.
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Downeast Sailing Adventures S/V Rachel B. Jackson
Experience the "Real Maine" on Acadia’s Quiet Side by sailing along the Cranberry Islands and Somes Sound. Enjoy the breathtaking vistas of Acadia National Park, unspoiled by cruise ships and resort hotels. Downeast Sailing Adventures offer affordable family oriented day sails along with overnight boat and breakfast tours and private charters.
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Sail Acadia Downeast Friendship Sloop Charters
Downeast Friendship Sloop Charters offers a unique sailing experience aboard a Friendship Sloop- the original lobster boat! These sail powered vessels were built in Maine in the late 1800’s as working lobster boats and have remained popular because of their beauty and seaworthy nature. They offer various trips including half-day sails, sunset sails, lighthouse tours, Cranberry Island tours and Fjord Explorer Tour. Pitch in and help handle the sails or just sit back, relax and enjoying the spectacular coastline of Acadia National Park.
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Island Cruises
Now in their 18th season, Island Cruises offers a leisurely-paced, interactive boat cruise that provides an introduction to the area's outer islands, wildlife and history. A quiet and relaxing alternative to Bar Harbor boat cruises, the R.L. Gott is based out of Bass Harbor and carries no more than 49 passengers. We're the perfect cruise to comfortably see gray seals, porpoises, herons, osprey, eagles and other wildlife. They offer a Morning Lunch Cruise and a Afternoon Nature Cruise, both at a very reasonable rate. |
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Mansell Boat Rental Company
Just down the road from Scotty's Dockside, Mansell Boat Rental Company offers a variety of sailboats and motorboats for rental. Along with fulfilling all your boat rental needs, they also offer sailing lessons, captain services and personalized sightseeing tours.
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Masako Queen Deep Sea Fishing Company
Take a 1/2 day fishing trip or a 3/4 day deep sea fishing trip with Masako Queen. You will sail out 8-20 miles out of Southwest Harbor where you may catch cod, cusk, cunner, mackerel, sculpin, redfish, school pollack and occasionally wolf fish or a mako shark. On every trip a lobster trap is pulled for every person on the boat and any legal lobsters in your trap are yours to keep! Along with great fishing you will have opportunities to see the Maine wildlife.
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Seawall - Acadia National Park
Just down the road from Scotty's Dockside is a part of Acadia National Park that is really special. It's just past Manset where you can drive right up to the rocky coastline and take in gorgeous scenery, walk on the massive granite rocks, sunbathe and picnic. There are picnic tables in shaded areas and along the shoreline with restrooms close by. This is an area of Acadia that you shouldn't miss. Just beyond these scenic areas, you'll approach Acadia National Park's Ship Harbor Trail and Wonderland Trail which will take you along the ocean and through nature trails and carriage roads. They are easy hikes and definitely worth exploring.
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National Park Canoe and Kayak Rental
Rent top quality Old Town Canoes Kayaks and Riot Kayaks at National Park Canoe and Kayak. These boats are safe, stable and fun for all ages. And pets are welcome. They offer half day, full day and weekly canoe and kayak rentals along with a Sunset Self-Guided Tour July-September. Conveniently located at the north end of Long Pond, the largest lake in Acadia Park, there is no need to transport a canoe or kayak atop your car. You simply have to put the canoe into the water and paddle on.
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Acadia Air Tours
The very best way to see Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park is from the open cockpit of a two passenger Biplane or while enjoying a silent, effortless flight in a two passenger Glider. Acadia Air Tours is located at the Trenton-Bar Harbor Airport. They offer various types of flights including an Acadia Tour, Lighthouse Tour, Discovery Tour, Foliage Tour and a Romantic Sunset Flight.
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Southwest Cycle
Whether you are a first time rider or a seasoned cyclist Mount Desert Island offers a variety of cycling opportunities. Southwest Cycle offers half day, full day and weekly bike rentals along with a shop full of quality bicycles and accessories for sale and can help you with your bicycle repairs. The friendly staff know all the great trails on MDI and can suggest routes for all your needs and abilities. Stop by Southwest Cycle for your personalized service.
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Clark Point Gallery
Located in the heart of downtown Southwest Harbor, Clark Point Gallery offers a collection of 19th and early 20th century paintings of Maine and Mount Desert Island. They are open Tuesday-Saturday 12-5pm, June 15 through Labor Day.
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Wendell Gilley Museum
The Wendell Gilley Museum is a community center that celebrates the life and work of Wendell Gilley, a pioneer in the field of decorative bird carving. It teaches the art of bird carving and presents art exhibitions and educational programs with a special focus on people, nature and art. The Museum always features substantial exhibits of bird carvings by Wendell Gilley. They also have carvings done by Museum members and the Carver-in-Residences. Every summer and fall season, a temporary exhibition drawn from other museums, galleries, artists and private collections brings something new to the Southwest Harbor art scene, be it contemporary or historical in nature.
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Seal Cove Auto Museum
At the Seal Cove Auto Museum you will find a wide variety of antique autos, from an 1899 DeDion Bouton to a 1924 Mercer, with a special emphasis on examples from the "Brass Era" (1895-1917). Many of these automobiles and motorcycles have been restored to world-class condition, while others remain in their original, unrestored condition. Antique car enthusiasts as well as those who simply enjoy cars from the past will delight in the beauty, mystery and romance of this unique collection.
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Cranberry Cove Ferry
Just down the road from Scotty's Dockside you can catch the Cranberry Cove Ferry. They do numerous daily trips at an affordable rate. All trips do a loop between Great Cranberry Island, Islesford (Little Cranberry) and Great Cranberry. Enjoy panoramic views of the mountains of Acadia National Park, as you cross Frenchman's Bay.
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Swan's Island Ferry
Located 6 miles south of Mt. Desert Island, Swan's Island is home to a resident population of about 350 people. Access to the island is by ferry out of Bass Harbor. There is year-round ferry service to the island at affordable rates.
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The Mount Desert Oceanarium
A great place for young and old alike to have a real up close and personal experience with the marine biology of Maine. Recognized as a leader in the effort to involve visitors with a "hands on" experience, each visitor is invited to look at different and unique marine creatures from baby starfish, to lobsters, to crabs, to shrimp, to a variety of ocean fish and adult seals. Lobster fishing in the nearby Atlantic Ocean is also a popular activity. Much like a petting zoo, the Oceanarium even features a "petting pool". |